Auteur(s) / Author(s)

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

(1) Amsterdamse School, PAYS-BAS

Résumé / Abstract

Recently the use of doping amongst amateur bodybuilders has become a public item. Previous research has shown that the chance of a bodybuilder becoming a steroid-user increases with the amount of years one is working out. In this paper the nature of this relationship is examined, by investigating the way the human body is conceptualized in bodybuilding subculture. It is concluded, that in those manifestations of bodybuilding subculture, endurance is romanticized, and its positive effects on the human body are both glorified and exaggerated. In the past, this view on the body has been challenged by bodybuilders, but for some reason, the ruling powers in bodybuilding subculture have always counteracted other views. So, bodybuilders are advised by the 'muscular' spokesmen to work out heavily and frequently, and to cultivate a lifestyle that is centred around the daily training routines. However, it is impossible to make significant achievements in bodybuilding while maintaining this lifestyle. The training overload causes extensive damage to the muscle fibres, thus making growth of muscle tissue impossible. Only when using forbidden substances, such as anabolic steroids, progress can be made. Natural bodybuilders should not work out the way the spokesmen of bodybuilding subculture tell them to. Instead, when naturals reduce training workload, progress is made. It is concluded that the fight against the use of enhancing agents should begin at educating potential doping users on training. The impact of this should not be underestimated, as these unrealistic training procedures are already taught at the educational system of some schools in the Netherlands